Jefferson Avenue Apartments to Continue Revitalization of Commercial Corridor 

On December 19, New York State Homes and Community Renewal, City of Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown and People Inc. proudly announced the start of construction on the $31 million affordable housing and supportive housing development on Buffalo’s East Side for the People Inc. Jefferson Avenue Apartments. 

Government and community leaders joined together at the Johnnie B. Wiley Amateur Athletic Sports Pavilion to mark the occasion, including: Mayor Byron W. Brown, Herb Bellamy of Bellamy Enterprises, Upstate Development Director of NYS Homes and Community Renewal Lenny Skrill, NYS Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, State Senator Tim Kennedy, Congressmember Brian Higgins, Common Council President and Ellicott District Common Council Member Darius Pridgen, Erie County Legislator Barbara Miller Williams, Ellen Hardy, acting director of the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities Region 1, Nick Sinatra of Sinatra and Company Real Estate and People Inc. President and CEO Rhonda Frederick.

People Inc. Jefferson Avenue Apartments, to be located at 1140 and 1166 Jefferson Avenue, will include 89 affordable apartments in two buildings with 16 set aside for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The apartment buildings will feature both one and two-bedroom units available and will also contain a community room with a small kitchen, on-site laundry facilities, ample green space, courtyards and off-street parking. The apartments will also be near a major bus route and easily accessible to a number of services and retail shops. The ground floor of both apartment buildings will contain a total of 16,500 square feet of commercial space, which will include retail shops and house a People Inc. recruitment office.

The project is funded by: City of Buffalo Home Funds, NYS Empire State Development, NYS Energy Research and Development Authority, NYS Homes and Community Renewal, NYS Housing Finance Agency and NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.

“I’m proud to be a part of this development in the historic Jefferson corridor,” said Rhonda Frederick, president and CEO, People Inc. “We are so pleased to have the support of many community leaders and organizations, as we work together to provide an affordable housing opportunity for individuals ages 18 years and older. We are so grateful to the funders and elected officials that are making this project a reality.”

Well known for its development of group homes for individuals with developmental disabilities and affordable senior housing, People Inc. continues to serve the community by bringing various audiences together for a unique housing model. 

People Inc., a multispecialty non-profit health and human services agency, provides programs and services to more than 12,000 people with developmental disabilities, special needs, their families and older adults throughout Western New York and the Greater Rochester region. Since 1970, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity. With nearly 4,000 employees, People Inc. is one of the region’s largest employers. To learn more, visit people-inc.org, follow People Inc. on Facebook or Twitter @PeopleIncNews.